The Law on Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises was passed by the National Assembly last year in a hope to facilitate the formulation of comprehensive support policies and programs for these subjects. This article highlights novel points of the Law.

Under a prime ministerial decision, from May 1-30, 2017, the Month of Action for OSH was launched for the first time in Vietnam in order to raise the awareness about and enhance compliance with the OSH law nationwide, which was actively responded by a lot of enterprises.

To promote fast and sustainable economic growth, efforts should be devoted to further improving the business climate and economic competitiveness, reforming specialized inspections of imports and exports and cutting business conditions.

On September 29, 2017, the State Bank of Vietnam enacted Circular 13/2017/TT-NHNN (effective as of November 15, 2017) amending a number of articles of Circular 07/2015/TT-NHNN on bank guarantees (Circular 07). The main changes brought about by the new text relate to guarantees for housing projects and are embedded in Article 12 of Circular 07.

The legislative basis for mediation is noted to improve and countries, such as Vietnam, have pursued mediation reforms as a response to contemporary demands.

As high non-performing loan (NPL) levels affect many credit institutions, particularly financially weak banks, authorities should step in to lead the system-wide response. This article dwells on major solutions to NPLs set forth in a recently approved scheme on banking system restructuring and NPL resolution.

The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has recently issued some new regulations guiding lending activity of credit institutions and branches of foreign banks (credit institutions). These regulations have a significant effect on lending activity of credit institutions. Enacted to address the limitations of the precedent regulations, they also have some unclear points which might limit their effect. This article analyzes regulatory issues relevant to interests on loans of credit institutions.

In response to Vietnam receiving a ‘yellow card’ from the European Union, indicating the union’s dissatisfaction with Vietnam’s efforts to fight illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, the National Assembly last week passed the revised Law on Fisheries.

Deputy PM Trinh Dinh Dung has asked the Ministry of Transport to finalize transport infrastructure construction mechanisms and policies, particularly mechanisms for mobilizing capital from credit institutions for transport infrastructure development, and state budget-funded investment policies.

The codification of regulations on business investment conditions has realized the spirit of freedom of enterprise enshrined in the 2013 Constitution but there remain difficulties in the process due to disperse regulations in specialized legal documents, heard a recent workshop in Hanoi.